Women’s Lacrosse named No. 1 in national polls

Junior defender Brooke Gubitosi carries the ball on March 24 against USC at Kenneth P. LaValle Stadium. The Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team has been named No. 1 in national polls for the first time in program history. ARACELY JIMENEZ/STATESMAN FILE

The Stony Brook women’s lacrosse team has been unanimously picked as the new No. 1 team in the country by three different national polls for the first time in program history on Monday.

“I have far more interest in being No. 1 in late May,” head coach Joe Spallina said after his team knocked off No. 20 Denver 16-3 on Sunday afternoon. “I’m also okay with us being No. 1 tomorrow forward. That’s what I tell them all the time, that it’s all about us. We’re going to go out and play Stony Brook lacrosse and people have to adjust for us.”

The rise to the top spot started on Saturday afternoon, after then No. 1 Maryland fell to then No. 8 UNC 16-15 in overtime. Maryland since has dropped to No. 4, while UNC jumped up five spots to No. 3 in the newest polls.

The newly ranked No. 1 team will take the field next on Saturday, March 3 for a game against No. 10 Northwestern. It will be a huge game for the Seawolves. While it will be the first game in the top spot of the polls, it is also redshirt-senior attacker Courtney Murphy’s first time facing the Wildcats since tearing her ACL in a game against them last season.

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The Seawolves are primed to show why they deserve the No. 1 ranking, even after a stifling defensive effort on Sunday.

“When we’re working together, everyone plays well,” redshirt-senior defender Brooke Gubitosi said. “If we’re all on the same page and we’re playing our style of defense, good luck playing us.”